Isaiah 60:9 - Exposition

Surely the isles shall wait for me . The "isles," or maritime countries of the West, have long waited for a Redeemer ( Isaiah 41:1 ; Isaiah 42:4 ; Isaiah 49:1 ; Isaiah 51:5 , etc.). They shall send their sons, and their gifts, in ships, which will come from far, and cover the Mediterranean (see the preceding verse). The ships of Tarshish. Either ships belonging to the people of Tartessus, in Spain, who had a widely extended commerce in ancient times (Herod; 1.163; 4.152; 1 Kings 10:22 ; Ezekiel 27:12 ; Jonah 1:3 ; etc.), or ships of a peculiar class, such as were considered suitable for the long and dangerous voyage to the distant Western port (see the comment on Isaiah 2:16 ). To bring thy sons from far (see the comment on Isaiah 60:4 ). Unto the Name of the Lord; i.e . "to the place where the Lord has set his Name" (comp. Isaiah 18:7 ).